Tips and tricks

The railway of the Dolomites, later become cycle path of the Dolomites, was opened in 1921 to connect Calalzo di Cadore, Dobbiaco and Cortina d'Ampezzo. With the passing years and the development of motorization and technologies it was gradually abandoned.

It had its time of glory during the year 1956 on occasion of the Cortina Winter Olympics, but then its decline was inevitable especially when, in 1960, there was a serious accident in which two persons died. 65 kilometers long, the railway was dismantled in 1964. Today, as mentioned before, the railway has become the cycle path of the Dolomites and connects Calalzo di Cadore in the Veneto region to Dobbiaco in the Alto Adige region.

We’re in Umbria where you can’t see the sea but where hills, protected areas, beautiful villages perched on promontories... surely don’t lack! It is the year 1926 and it’s an autumn full of news for this area in central Italy: the Spoleto – Norcia railway line, with narrow-gauge and electric traction, is ready to start its short story in the overview of the Italian railways now almost forgotten!

The evolution of transports, the revolution of rubber and the resulting abandon of the railway lines, over the years has led to a transformation: some abandoned railways have been rehabilitated becoming paths for pedestrians and cyclists. Also in Italy this small change has had important results in the development and diffusion of cycling tourism: where there is a secure path for bicycles the curious and the travelers arrive and induced tourism grows...